BRIDGEWATER, Va. --- The Vixen field hockey team dropped a tough 4-1 decision to conference foe Bridgewater on Saturday afternoon.  The game was a one goal affair for much of the match, until the Eagles added three quick insurance goals in a six minute span.  Sweet Briar answered with a goal of their own in the 54th minute, but could not get any closer.

Bridgewater's Kelly Ryan ('13/Chester, Va.), after being denied on an early opportunity by Vixen goalkeeper Madeline Wilson ('12/Orange, Va.), scored her fourth goal of the season to put the Eagles out in front in the ninth minute.  Despite being outdrawn 10-0 in penalty corners, the Vixens held the Eagles off the board for the remainder of the half as Wilson turned away six shots in the opening stanza. 

Sweet Briar came out gunning for the equalizer early in the opening minutes of the second half.  The Vixens carried play early, gaining five penalty corners and testing Eagle goaltender Jessica Balsano ('14/Sandy Hook, Conn.).  Senior Alexandra St. Pierre (So. Hamilton, Mass.) put two shots on goal, while linemates Morgan Harris ('14/Chesapeake, Va.) and Adelaide Hedge ('15/Winston-Salem, N.C.) each fired a shot apiece during the barrage.

The Eagles would turn the tide eleven minutes into the second half.  Kelly Ryan would again find the back of the cage, for the eventual game winner, at 46:15.  The goal staggered the Vixens and the Eagles took advantage.  Bridgewater forwards Galen Goodman ('14/Poquoson, Va.) and Jennifer Tompkins ('14/Mount Airy, Md.) added two more tallies in the following six minutes to give the Eagles a 4-0 lead.

The Vixens regrouped and returned to the attack.  Hedge carried the ball up the left sideline and passed the ball ahead to Loralei Whittaker ('14/Chesapeake, Va.).  Whittaker sent a cross into the circle that was tipped by Sarah Cooper ('15/Doylestown, Pa.) and then knocked in by fellow first year Kimberly Orchowski (Crofton, Md.).  The goal was the second of season for Orchowski.

Though Sweet Briar outdrew Bridgewater for penalty corners in the second half 8-7, the Vixens did not get any closer on the scoreboard.  Wilson kept the score at 4-1 for the remainder and finished with eight saves on the day. 

Vixen Head Coach Jess Lamina was proud of her team for never quitting.  "We saw some great attack and drew a good amount of corners and calls," noted Lamina.  "Our play today helps us gear up for next weekend."

Sweet Briar returns to action next Saturday, October 8, when they travel to Harrisonburg, Va. to take on Eastern Mennonite University in a conference match beginning at 1pm.